Recently, King Charles hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for cancer charities and issued what was described as a “heartfelt message” to fellow cancer sufferers. He spoke of the “daunting and at times frightening experience” for cancer sufferers and their loved ones.
The Royal Family has been touched with cancer in recent years, with both the King and the Princess of Wales undergoing treatment which has mercifully proved to be successful. They have allowed a far greater measure of openness with the public about their diagnosis and treatment than was the case when Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne and a greater privacy and distance was maintained.
There is no doubt that the public has taken the King to their hearts because of his illness, and many have been helped and encouraged to know that the monarch is suffering in the same way that they are. It has made him more human and has enabled him to connect with them and for his words of encouragement to cancer sufferers to come with genuine authenticity and sympathy. He said that his experience of living with cancer had shown that “the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.”
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